Super Falcons Gear Up for WAFCON Title Defense with Star Duo's Arrival!

The Super Falcons of Nigeria have officially commenced their preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), with their training camp opening in Casablanca, Morocco. Key players, including captain Rasheedat Ajibade, veteran forward Asisat Oshoala, and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, were among the first to arrive at the camp on Monday. Head coach Justine Madugu is overseeing the initial phase of assembling his squad for the continental tournament, which is scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 16, 2026.

Other early arrivals providing a strong foundation for the technical crew include defenders Glory Ogbonna, Oluwatosin Demehin, Rofiat Imuran, and Shukurat Oladipo, as well as midfielder Christy Ucheibe and goalkeeper Fatima Oloko. Sixteen additional players are expected to join the camp in the coming days, as Coach Madugu aims to have his full squad prepared for Nigeria’s title defence.

The Super Falcons are set to move their base to Rabat, where they will begin their Group C campaign. Their first match will be against Malawi’s Scorchers at the Al Madina Stadium on Tuesday, July 28. Nigeria has been drawn into a challenging Group C, alongside Zambia’s Copper Queens, Malawi, and Egypt, as they aspire to retain the WAFCON crown they secured in the previous edition.

Meanwhile, Zambia, one of Nigeria’s primary group opponents, has also intensified its preparations for the tournament. The Copper Queens are scheduled to travel to Algeria on Monday for their final phase of training. They have spent the preceding two weeks in a local camp in Lusaka, under the guidance of assistant coach Charles Haalubono, before head coach Nora Elizabeth Häuptle joins the squad in Algeria. As part of their final build-up, Zambia will play two friendly matches against Algeria before travelling to Morocco on a chartered flight.

Zambia's preparations are being closely observed, as they aim to challenge Nigeria’s dominance in Group C. Having emerged as one of Africa’s strongest women’s football teams in recent years, the Copper Queens are looking to make a significant statement at the tournament. With Nigeria, Zambia, Malawi, and Egypt all grouped together, Group C is anticipated to be one of the most competitive sections of the 2026 WAFCON, presenting an early test for the Super Falcons in their pursuit of another continental triumph.